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Postseason Race Heats Up as NWF Hosts Gulf Coast Wednesday
Posted: Feb 10, 2026

Postseason Race Heats Up as NWF Hosts Gulf Coast Wednesday

 

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State men's and women's basketball return home Wednesday for their eighth conference contest, and second against Gulf Coast State.

The Raiders are looking to make one final push for the postseason with only five games remaining in the regular season. Two wins for the women this week will give them an automatic postseason birth while the men's picture is still unclear with four teams still within striking distance of the top spot.

 

Game Information

February 11, 2026
Location: Niceville, FL | Raider Arena
Live Stream Link

Women (5:15 p.m.)

No. 3 Northwest Florida (19-3, 5-2) vs. No. 13 Gulf Coast (16-4, 4-3)

Men (7:30 p.m.)

No. 3 Northwest Florida (21-4, 4-3) vs. No. 3 Gulf Coast (22-3, 5-2)

 

Women's Game Notes

Last Week: Northwest Florida extended its winning streak to three games with a pair of road victories over Pensacola State and Chipola. The Raiders opened the week with a dominant 55–36 win at Pensacola, fueled by a stifling defensive performance that limited the Pirates to under 30 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
Saturday delivered the Raiders' biggest win of the season, as Northwest Florida knocked off No. 1 Chipola, 69–66. A decisive third quarter allowed the Raiders to build a double-digit lead, which proved just enough to secure the three-point victory down the stretch.

This Week: The Raiders return home Wednesday to host No. 13 Gulf Coast before heading back on the road Saturday for a matchup at Tallahassee State. Northwest Florida earned a 60–54 win over the Commodores in Panama City last month in a tightly contested game. Holding a one-game lead over Gulf Coast in the conference standings, the Raiders will look to create more separation with a win. Northwest Florida also aims to take the season series against the Eagles Saturday after earning an 18-point home victory earlier this season.

The Opponent: Under head coach Rory Kuhn, Gulf Coast boasts one of the nation's most explosive offenses, ranking top three nationally at 88.6 points per game. The Commodores also rank fifth in field goals made (31.6), third in total rebounds (51.6), and sixth in assists (19.9).
Sophomore forward Arianny Francisco De Oliveira leads the attack, ranking sixth nationally at 20.7 points per game while averaging a team-best 9.6 rebounds. Myla Benton provides another scoring threat, contributing 15.7 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting.

NWF by the Numbers: Northwest Florida features one of the country's elite defenses, allowing just 47.7 points per game — the second-lowest mark nationally — while holding opponents to 22.9 percent shooting from three. Offensively, the Raiders average 73.8 points per game and rank second nationally in field goal percentage (50.0%) and 24th in three-point percentage (32.8%).

Magic Number: The Raiders' magic number to clinch a spot in the FCSAA Basketball Tournament is two. Wins in both games this week would secure a top-three conference finish and mark Northwest Florida's ninth consecutive postseason appearance.

 

Men's Game Notes

Last Week: Northwest Florida split a pair of road contests last week, earning a decisive 75–46 win at Pensacola State before falling to No. 18 Chipola. The Raiders delivered one of their most complete performances of the season against Pensacola, firing on all cylinders on both ends of the floor.
Against Chipola, Northwest Florida carried a narrow lead into halftime but saw momentum swing midway through the second half. The Raiders fell into a double-digit deficit before ultimately dropping the contest by nine points.

This Week: The Raiders return home for two pivotal matchups against top-10 opponents. Northwest Florida hosts No. 3 Gulf Coast on Wednesday in the second meeting between the two programs. The Raiders claimed the first matchup in Panama City with an explosive 96–89 victory.
Saturday sends the Raiders back to Tallahassee for the third and final regular-season meeting with the Eagles. Tallahassee has taken the first two matchups, with Northwest Florida surrendering halftime leads in both contests.

The Opponent: Gulf Coast has remained among the nation's elite throughout the season, spending much of the year ranked inside the top 10. The Commodores boast one of the NJCAA's top offenses, averaging 86.0 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field.
Their attack is powered by a dynamic backcourt trio of Trent Lincoln (20.1 ppg), Devontes Cobbs (14.8 ppg), and Traevon Koch (11.4 ppg). Gulf Coast also ranks ninth nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.5) and 10th in attempts (30.8).

By the Numbers: Northwest Florida has been one of the NJCAA's most efficient offensive teams, averaging 84.0 points per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field (5th nationally) and 39.2 percent from three-point range (6th). The Raiders have topped the 100-point mark six times this season and scored 90 or more in 12 contests. Northwest Florida has also excelled in tight games, posting an 8–2 record in contests decided by fewer than 10 points.